Three little known facts of United States history took place in West Maui nearly two centuries ago: 1) the first high school west of the Rockies was established; 2) the first newspaper west of the Rockies was printed; and 3) the first ever Hawaiian-language newspaper, books, dictionary, maps, and paper currency were printed.

New England missionaries arriving in Maui in the early 1800s found Native Hawaiians eager to learn, and willing to work hard to accomplish their goals. To meet the challenge, the newcomers first developed a 12-letter alphabet for the Hawaiian language in order to teach Hawaiians how to read and write in both their native tongue and in English. They then set about organizing Hawaiians to bring in building materials and erect a schoolhouse. The 1000 acres of real estate which became the school's campus were donated by the Hawaiian chief with the King's blessing

In 1831, Lahainaluna Seminary--which still operates today as the Lahainaluna High School--was opened by Reverend Lorrin Andrews, to train sixty adults as teachers and lay ministers. What made this school unique was that all instruction, textbooks, and students were Hawaiian, and the emphasis was on the preservation of Hawaiian history, language, and culture.

A printing press was donated to the school in 1833 and incorporated into the curriculum. The press was initially housed in a thatched-roof hut on campus to provide students with both a learning experience and a means to create Hawaiian-language instruction and reading materials, atlases, bibles, dictionaries, maps and paper money.

The first Hawaiian-language newspaper, "The Torch of Hawaii," was put into publication within a year, and two years after that students wrote and published the first history of Hawaii. An original copy of this history can be viewed today, along with a replica of the original press, in the stone structure known as "The Hale Pa'i" (House of Printing Press) that was later constructed to house the press and now serves as a museum.

This is but one of many stories of West Maui's rich and diverse past. West Maui was a favorite playground of Hawaii's royalty long before the first foreigners set eyes on the islands, and continues to be a number one destination of both visitors and home buyers. Contact Robert Myers for information on West Maui real estate opportunities available today!